I quickly progressed from agent to training director and then to manager. Then I moved to another company as general manager and eventually became CEO. That’s where I was in January 2009, when three well-established and respected companies—Prudential Decker Realty of Virginia Beach, Prudential McCardle Realty of Williamsburg, and GSH Real Estate—decided to combine resources with TowneBank, a progressive hometown bank, to create a powerhouse real estate company for Hampton Roads. That is how Prudential Towne Realty was born. In a way, my career has come full circle—from banking to real estate to a thriving relationship with both. It’s been a source of pride and fulfillment for me and, I hope, an inspiration for others.
BP: How would you characterize your company’s position in your marketplace?
BW: In size, we’re probably fifth or sixth in the region with over 400 agents in nine locations. In production, we zoom up to third. And in terms of prestige and customer loyalty, we are decidedly top tier. We have the strong and enviable combination of the Prudential franchise, the much-respected TowneBank brand, and a solid reputation as the go-to company for professional, customer-centric service.
BP: What would you point to as your competitive advantage in the marketplace?
BW: We know the market. We have deep roots in every community we serve, and we are able to provide expert guidance to every customer in every aspect of the business. I think we are perceived as the company you can trust, not just because of our distinguished pedigree, but because everything we do speaks of professionalism and customer care. From our individualized marketing and advertising platforms to our attention to detail to our skill and proficiency with buying and selling homes at every price point in our market—and those range enormously, from homes valued in the low $100-thousands to well over $6.5 million.
BP: How have you evolved as a company over the years to adapt to changes in the market?
BW: Taken together, our company brings to the table more than 60 years of experience in every phase and every condition of the market. The timing for our merger could not have been better, because even as the Fine Homes market declined for a while, we had other markets to sustain us—including the military market, which is always a sizeable part of our base. We offer a fully rounded real estate experience, including fine homes, relocation, mortgage and title services, property management, commercial services and more. We have learned over the years to be flexible and realistic, and to respond as market needs demand. The reality is that the real estate market changes all the time, but we make it priority one in every market to be a trusted advisor to all of our clients.
